The Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints met in their NFL clash on Monday Night Football.
Both teams were setting their sights on the number one seed in the NFC playoff race to seal home advantage for the post-season as they came in with records of 10-1 and 9-2 respectively.
However, it was the Seahawks who secured their place in the playoffs as the hammered Sean Payton's side 34-7 with a dominating performance and will now look to push on to seal their place at number one seed.
Read below to see how all the action unfolded.
Good morning and welcome to the live commentary of the NFL clash between the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints.
What a game we have in store this morning as the 10-1 Seahawks take on the 9-2 Saints at CenturyLink Field.
The Seahawks are unbeaten at home this season and haven't lost with Russell Wilson as their quarterback in Seattle. A run that stretches for 13 games.
Wilson has been in excellent form this season carry on the success from his rookie year, as he has thrown 19 touchdowns to just five interceptions, guiding his team to hold at present the number one seed in the NFC playoff race.
Marshawn Lynch has backed up Wilson's success with a fine season on the ground behind a make-shift offensive line, running for 925 yards off 208 carries at an average of 4.4 yards an attempt. Add to that nine rushing scores and that makes an excellent campaign for the 27-year-old.
The Seahawks defense has been one of the most potent in the league yet again as they lead the NFL in fewest yards allowed ahead of their opponents in this game the Saints who are in second place. Seattle are also second in points allowed trailing the Carolina Panthers by four points.
Their defense has been aided with a solid pass rush with Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett leading the way with 6.5 sacks a piece, while their secondary otherwise known as the 'Legion of Boom' has the ability to shut down some of the league's top wideouts, as Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are considered two of the best players in their respective positions in the NFL.
One problem for the Seahawks this evening will be suspensions and reported suspensions. As Walter Thurmond III is the latest player to be banned joining Bruce Irvin and Brandon Browner to be penalised. Browner is also facing a one-year ban for substance abuse but is inactive tonight.
Drew Brees will be looking to take full advantage of that weakened secondary as he comes into CenturyLink Field on the back of an excellent season to date. We've come to expect excellence from him and this year has been no different, as he has thrown for 28 touchdowns to just eight interceptions at a quarterback rating of 107.3.
Helping Brees to try and break the Seahawks' home streak will be an array of weapons starting with tight end Jimmy Graham who has 65 receptions and 945 yards this season along with 11 touchdowns. Only Rob Gronkowski has more scores than Graham from the tight end position since 2010.
The Saints wideouts will also look to cause damage as Kenny Stills, Marques Colston and Robert Meachem are looking dangerous in the latter half of the season after a slow start to the year.
Defensively look no further than outstanding defensive end Cameron Jordan for production. He has been a menace to opposition quarterbacks this season with 9.5 sacks on the year but he has been supported by fellow rusher Junior Galette and on the inside by Akiem Hicks, who has come on leaps and bounds this year.
The Saints secondary has taken a hit with the loss of Jabari Greer and he has been replaced by Corey White, so expect Wilson to try and target the rookie throughout the game.
SEAHAWKS INACTIVES: Harvin, Michael, Browner, Bowie, Hauptmann, Mayowa, Hill.
SAINTS INACTIVES: Robinson, Wade, Dawson, Armstead, Toon, Foster, Griffin.
A big blow for Seattle as wide receiver Percy Harvin aggravated his hip, that ruled him out of the first eight games of the year meaning he is not active for this game. As mentioned earlier Browner is inactive as well due to injury and alleged suspension on the way.
The Saints have been boosted by the return of running back Darren Sproles, he is one of Brees's favourite weapons out of the backfield and especially in tight situations on third down. The Saints are pretty much at full strength for this game.
We're ready for the off and Seattle will get us underway with the kick so Brees will get the ball first.
Hauschka's kick sails out of the endzone and Brees will start at the 20.
The Saints start with a three and out as Thomas gets the handoff on first and gets dropped for a four-yard loss, Sproles gets the yardage back and three more on second on a reception on a swing pass but on third and seven, Brees fires deep for Meachem but Sherman breaks up the pass. Morstead's punt is returned to the Seattle 31 by Tate.
Wilson gets surprised by the snap from Unger but catches the ball and fires a strike to Robinson down the right sideline for 21 yards to move his side to the Saints' 45.
Wilson keeps the ball this time on a designed run down the right sideline and he manages to eek out the 10 yards for the first down before he gets pushed out of bounds at the 35.
Seattle move the ball downfield again as this time Wilson takes the ball in the pocket and fires to Tate on a slant route and he gets 11 yards before he's brought down to move his side to the 24.
Wilson keeps the ball on third and three and he manages to get four yards before he gets brought down as he gets the first down after Lynch got seven yards through the middle of the line on two carries on first and second.
The Saints kill their drive at their own 12-yard line as Galette brings down Lynch for a two-yard loss and then Wilson throws an incompletion on second. On third down he goes short to Lynch who fumbles the ball but manages to gather on the floor. That will leave Hauschka with a 26-yard field goal attempt.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! Saints 0-3 Seahawks
Hauschka's kick goes out of the endzone again and Brees will start at the 20.
FUMBLE & TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
The Seahawks get their first touchdown of the night as Avril gets behind Brees and sacks him and knocks the ball out of his hand and it falls straight to Bennett, who catches it and runs into the endzone for the 22-yard score. What a start for Seattle.
Cadet takes a knee in the endzone from Hauschka's kick so Brees will start once again from the 20.
The Saints can't get moving at all as Graham drops a would be first down for them as Brees lobbed a pass in his direction but he couldn't come down with it, and Sproles was dropped for a four-yard gain on third and nine forcing Morstead to punt and Tate returns the ball to the 50. However, a penalty pushes the Seahawks back to their 37.
The Seahawks move to the five-yard line with a great play by Wilson as he fakes the handoff to Turbin on third and one and he lobs a pass over the heads of several defenders to his tight end Miller who is in the clear, he sprints to the endzone but is tripped on the five by Hawthorne for a gain of 60 yards. It will be first and goal.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Seattle take a 17-point lead in the game as Wilson takes the snap in the pocket and fires short to Miller in the endzone for the three-yard score, to ensure the tight end gets the touchdown he deserved. An excellent drive by the Seahawks who are in command of this game now.
Hauschka kicks the ball out of the endzone again and Brees will start at the 20.
The Saints finally get a first down as on third and one, Brees hands off to the full back Collins and he powers through the middle of the line for a 12-yard gain to their 41. Brees had fired short to Thomas on first to get eight yards to set up the short yardage plays on second and third.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: New Orleans Saints 0-17 Seattle Seahawks
The Saints get a break on third and two as Avril jumps the gun and runs offside giving Brees and his side five yards and another set of downs at the Seattle 46.
Another big third down conversion for the Saints after Thomas got six yards on a checkdown on second, on third Brees surveyed the field and fired to Colston on a hitch route at the marker for five yards.
The Saints overcome a delay of game penalty on third and one, that set them back five as Brees fires downfield to Graham for the first time in the game to get the first down with a completion worth 20 yards to move his side to the Seattle 12.
Sherman commits a unnecessary roughness penalty that will give the Saints another first down and move them to the six after the cornerback charged into Stills for no reason. That could cost his side.
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS!
The Saints get on the board as Brees fires a strike to Graham in the endzone for the two-yard touchdown. It's a perfect pass as manages to get the ball between three defenders to the tight end for the score. They still trail by 10 though.
Turbin returns the ball to the 15 where Wilson will begin.
Wilson makes an excellent throw on third down at his own 22-yard line as the Saints bring the blitz and he puts the ball up in the air down the seam for Baldwin who makes the grab over Jenkins before the safety pushes the receiver out of bounds at the Saints' 24. That was a reception worth 52 yards, a great touch pass from the quarterback.
Seattle overcome two penalties to get the first down on third and 13 as Wilson drills the ball to Tate on a screen pass and he manages to find 17 yards on the ground before he gets pushed out of bounds at the 11.
The Seahawks have a third and six at the Saints 7, after Kearse dropped a pass in the endzone following a remarkable play from Wilson to spin away from several rushers and throw on the run but the receiver couldn't make the play. A crucial play coming up.
Seattle can't punch the ball into the endzone as Wilson is forced to scramble and as no receivers are able to get open and he reaches the three-yard line, just a yard short of the first down marker, that will force Hauschka into a 20-yarder.
FIELD GOAL GOOD! Saints 7-20 Seahawks
Hauschka fires his effort through the posts and the Seahawks take a 13-point lead.
Cadet returns Hauschka's kick to the 22-yard line where Brees will begin.
The Saints go three and out as Brees overthrows his tight end Hill by a few inches on third and two as he just can't bring the ball in as it hits his fingertips after Colston and Collins had made good catches on first and second for four yards each. Morstead's punt is collected by Tate and he's pushed out of bounds at the Seattle 12.
Seattle will face a second and 14 after the two-minute warning as Wilson was nearly sacked by Hicks but managed to get rid of the ball to Lynch but he was dropped for a four-yard loss by Lofton.
Seattle move the chains as on third and nine Wilson delivers a strike to Kearse on a back-shoulder fade for 19 yards to dig them out of hole and potentially start a scoring drive.
Another short pass from Wilson does the trick for his side as he fires to Baldwin on a wide receiver screen and he manages to find seven yards down the left sideline to get another set of downs for Seattle after a Wilson run had got five on first.
Lynch gets the handoff on a draw play and finds all sorts of space through the middle of the line and he moves the chains with a 12-yard run before he's brought down at the Saints' 42.
Turbin gets the ball this time on the handoff and he sprints over the left side of the line and into the second level. He breaks a tackle to get the first down at the Saints 30 with a 12-yard run.
Wilson takes off on first and sprints away from the rush and manages to find 15 yards over the right side of the line to take his side to the Saints' 15.
An offsides penalty on the Saints moves the Seahawks to the five. First and goal.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
Seattle take a 20-point lead as Wilson fakes the handoff to Lynch and then loops the ball over to Baldwin at the left side of the endzone for the five-yard score. A great play, throw and route. The Seahawks have been excellent this half.
Cadet takes the ball tot the 15 where Brees will start.
Brees takes a knee to end the half, probably a wise move.
HALF-TIME: New Orleans Saints 7-27 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle have been all over the Saints in the first half. Wilson has been electric has dismantled Rob Ryan's defense with an array of accurate passes and excellent plays with his feet, taking what the defense is giving to him. It's all one-way traffic the moment.
The Saints couldn't have imagined a worse half of football bar their one scoring drive. Their offense has looked out of sync and they were aided by penalties on that drive they find the endzone and god knows where they would be without it. Brees has not looked comfortable in the pocket and the run game has been non-existant. Their defense hasn't contained Wilson or been able to stop the pass. They have a lot of work to do at the break to get back into this one.
Turbin returns the ball to the Seattle 18 where Wilson will start.
Seattle go three and out as Lynch gets stuffed on the line for a two-yard loss and on third and 11 Wilson is forced to fire a one-yard completion to Miller forcing a punt from Ryan for the first time in the game. His punt is collected by Sproles at the 32 but a 15-yard penalty will put them back to their 17.
The Saints go three and out as two holding penalties back them up to their three-yard line and Brees takes a shot downfield but Colston drops the pass under pressure from Sherman, on third he opts to go short to Sproles who gets 10 yards on the play but not enough for the first down and Morstead punts to the 31, but a penalty on Seattle backs them up to the 21.
The Seahawks get moving immediately as Wilson fakes the handoff to Lynch but then turns and fires over the middle of the field to Baldwin on a crossing route for a first down with a 14-yard reception.
Wilson takes the ball under center and does a five-step drop before launching a pass down the right sideline for Lockette for a 33-yard reception over Lewis to move Seattle to the Saints' 28.
A couple of penalties don't go the Saints way as the Seahawks are somehow not penalised for holding as Wilson evaded the rush and on third and two after an incompletion, Hicks charged into Wilson and was penalised for roughing the passer for 15 yards to move his side to the Saints' 10.
TOUCHDOWN SEAHAWKS!
When your luck is in, it's in as Seattle get into the endzone again but not by design as Wilson throws on the run and his pass to Davis is broken up but falls into the hands of full back Coleman who is right next to the tight end and he runs into the endzone for the eight-yard score. Incredible. It's under review though.
TOUCHDOWN CONFIRMED!! Saints 7-34 Seahawks
The Seahawks touchdown is confirmed as Coleman was not out of bounds before he caught the ball and he went in for the score. It's not the Saints night, as those two penalties beforehand weren't the best of calls.
Cadet returns the ball to the 22 where Brees will start.
The Saints get a generous call on third and two as Brees is hit late by Avril and Bennett and the officials throw the flag for a personal foul and that will add another set of downs and 15 yards to the Saints drive.
Brees can't go any further as Graham drops a pass on first down as Maxwell came across to break up the play and on second he's forced to throw quickly and it falls incomplete. On third Brees goes short to Sproles who is decked for a four-yard loss and Morstead is brought out to punt. His kick is taken to the Seattle 25 by Tate.
The Seahawks move the chains immediately as Wilson takes the snap in the shotgun and he drills the ball to Tate on hitch route for 12 yards to move them to the 37.
Seattle's drive comes to an end as Wilson runs beyond the line of scrimmage and throws a forward pass to Lynch, which is illegal and they lose the down on third and nine, which forces Ryan to punt and his kick is downed at the 25.
The Saints convert on third and five as Brees fires over the middle of the field for Moore for seven yards and they would have had the first down anyway as Clemons jumped offside.
Sproles gets the handoff on third and two and manages to churn out three yards over the left side of the line to move the chains for his side at the Saints' 48.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: New Orleans Saints 7-34 Seattle Seahawks
Brees finds Graham over the middle of the field wide open and he sits down in the zone and completes the catch and turns into the open field breaking a couple of tackles before finally going down at the Seattle 32 for a 20-yard gain.
Brees thinks he has first down over the middle of the field on third and 10 but the ball just dropped short of Stills for the completion and they will go for it on fourth down.
Brees airs the ball out down the right sideline looking for Graham but the ball falls out of bounds and the Seahawks will take over at their own 32.
The Seahawks go three and out as Wilson goes down and is sacked by Haralson on third down for an eight-yard loss after Turbin could only get the ball back to the line on second after Lockette was dropped for two-yard loss on first. Ryan's punt goes to the Saints' 43 where Brees will begin.
Sproles gets the first down for his side as he gets 12 yards on two short passes from Brees on two swing passes down the right sideline.
Brees goes down the middle for Colston on a curl route and he makes the grab for 12 yards to move his side to the Seattle 31 before he gets brought down by Thomas.
The Saints are stopped on third and one again as the Seahawks bring the rush and get to him in the pocket and his pass to Graham falls incomplete, after Sproles and Thomas combined for nine yards on first and second. The Saints will go for it on fourth and one.
Brees's pass to Graham is overthrown and Seattle will turn the ball over on downs yet again. It's just a matter of killing the clock now.
Seattle get a first down for the first time in the quarter as Wilson fires to Miller on a hitch route for 10 yards to move his side to the 35, after Turbin got three yards on first.
Seattle get a break in moving the chains as both Jordan and Galette jump into the neutral zone and hand the Seahawks five yards, which is enough on third and five for the first down.
The Seahawks fall short of converting on third and one as Johnson brings down Turbin at the line for no gain, after he found nine yards on first and second down. However, Seattle will go for it on fourth down.
Turbin powers through the line on fourth with a four-yard carry to move the chains. A good clock-killing drive by Seattle here.
The Seahawks will be stopped as Wilson rolls out to his right on play-action and passes to Willson but he is stopped for a three-yard gain and that will be fourth and six at the two-minute warning. A first down will more or less end the game for Seattle.
Seattle go for it on fourth down and can only muster three yards on a toss play to Coleman and the Saints will get the the ball on a turnover on downs.
McCown comes in for Brees and hands the ball off to Ingram who can only get eight yards and Morstead punts to the 12-yard line and Seattle can end this with a knee down.
Wilson kneels down and that will be that.
FULL-TIME: New Orleans Saints 7-34 Seattle Seahawks
I don't think anyone could have predicted this outcome as Seattle take a major step to securing the number one seed in the NFC playoff race and with it, home-field advantage.
The Seahawks have proved a major point in this game by destroying the Saints with good physical defensive play and an electric passing game that pulled apart Rob Ryan's defense.
Drew Brees couldn't get anything going all game and that doesn't bode well for any other quarterback going into CenturyLink Field come playoff time. Seattle are looking as good as anyone to reach the playoffs.
Thanks for joining our commentary. We'll be back with our live coverage of the NFL on Thursday when the Houston Texans take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Until then, goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
